Gerbera plant named &#39;majbur20aa&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Gerbera  plant named ‘MAJBUR20AA’, characterized by its broadly upright and uniformly mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; dense and bushy appearance; numerous inflorescences with deep red purple-colored ray florets; upright and moderately strong peduncles; good garden performance and relative tolerance to low temperatures.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Varieties of Gerbera Plants

Inventor: Martin Beers

Applicant: HilverdaFlorist B.V.

Filed: May 22, 2021

Ser. No. 63/192,017

Inventor & Applicant hereby claim the benefit of this provisional U.S.Plant Patent.

Botanical designation: Gerbera hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘MAJBUR20AA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Gerberaplant, botanically known as Gerbera hybrida and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name ‘MAJBUR20AA’.

The new Gerbera plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in De Kwakel, The Netherlands. The objectiveof the breeding program is to create new garden Gerbera plants withnumerous attractive inflorescences, resistant to cold temperatures andgood garden performance.

The new Gerbera plant originated from a cross-pollination in March, 2014of a proprietary selection of Gerbera hybrida identified as code number14T1407, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryselection of Gerbera hybrida identified as code number 15T1531, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Gerbera plant wasdiscovered and selected as a single flowering plant from within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in De Kwakel, The Netherlands in June, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Gerbera plant by vegetative terminalcuttings and in vitro meristem culture since August, 2015 has shown thatthe unique features of this new Gerbera plant are stable and reproducedtrue to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Gerbera have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘MAJBUR20AA’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘MAJBUR20AA’ as a new and distinct Gerberaplant:

-   -   1. Broadly upright and uniformly mounding plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Dense and bushy appearance.    -   4. Numerous inflorescences with deep red purple-colored ray        florets.    -   5 Upright and moderately strong peduncles.    -   6. Good garden performance and relative tolerance to low        temperatures.

Plants of the new Gerbera differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Gerbera have larger inflorescences with        larger ray florets than plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Gerbera have deep red purple-colored ray        florets whereas plants of the female parent selection have light        red-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Gerbera differ primarily from plants of the maleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Gerbera have shorter and narrower leaves        than plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Gerbera have deep red purple-colored ray        florets whereas plants of the male parent selection have dark        pink-colored ray florets.    -   3 Plants of the new Gerbera have shorter peduncles than plants        of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Gerbera can be compared to plants of the Gerberahybrida ‘MAJPUR21AA’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filedconcurrently. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Gerberadiffer from plants of ‘MAJPUR21AA’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Gerbera have longer and broader leaves        smaller inflorescences than plants of ‘MAJPUR21AA’.    -   2. Plants of the new Gerbera have larger inflorescences than        plants of ‘MAJPUR21AA’.    -   3 Ray florets of plants of the new Gerbera are darker red purple        in color than ray florets of plants of ‘MAJPUR21AA’.    -   4. Plants of the new Gerbera have longer peduncles than plants        of ‘MAJPUR21AA’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of thenew Gerbera plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Gerbera plant. The photograph is a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘MAJBUR20AA’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the winter and early spring in19-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Kwakel, TheNetherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial gardenGerbera production. During the production of the plants, day and nighttemperatures ranged from 12° C. to 16° C. Plants were six months oldwhen the photograph was taken and 20 weeks old when the description wastaken. In the following description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Gerbera hybrida ‘MAJBUR20AA’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Gerbera            hybrida identified as code number 14T1407, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Gerbera            hybrida identified as code number 15T1531, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By cuttings and in vitro meristem culture.        -   Time to initiate roots, by cuttings, summer and            winter.—About 3.5 weeks at minimum temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, by tissue culture, summer and            winter.—About 2.5 to 3 weeks at minimum temperatures of 20°            C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, by cuttings, summer            and winter.—About 3.5 weeks after rooting, at temperatures            about 20° C. to 26° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, by tissue culture,            summer and winter.—About five to six weeks at temperatures            about 20° C. to 26° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous; typically white in color, actual            color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition,            water quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate            temperature and physiological age of roots.-   Plant description:    -   -   Appearance.—Herbaceous perennial that is typically grown as            a container or garden plant; broadly upright and uniformly            mounding plant habit; roughly flattened globular in shape;            numerous leaves arranged in basal rosettes; dense and bushy            habit; inflorescences held above the foliar plane on erect            and strong basal peduncles; moderately vigorous to vigorous            growth habit and moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 31.2            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of inflorescences.—About 45            cm.        -   Plant width or spread.—About 64.2 cm.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, basal, simple.        -   Length.—About 22.2 cm.        -   Width.—About 9.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Narrowly ovate to narrowly oblong.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Broadly attenuate.        -   Margin.—Coarsely and shallowly repand to coarsely and            shallowly angulate or entire; proximally, coarsely and            irregularly angulate to runcinate; sinuses deep and            parallel.        -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Sparsely pubescent;            slightly rugose; moderately glossy.        -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Moderately to densely            pubescent; matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to a blend of            141A and 143A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to a            blend of 138A and 147B. Fully expanded leaves, upper            surface: Close to NN137B; venation, close to 144A. Fully            expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to a blend of 147C and            148B; venation, close to 146C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 13 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Texture            and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Moderately to densely            pubescent; slightly glossy. Strength: Moderately strong to            strong. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Composite inflorescence form with            oblanceolate-shaped ray florets; solitary inflorescences            borne on upright and moderately strong peduncles and held            above the foliar plane; ray and disc florets arranged            acropetally on a capitulum; inflorescences face upright.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about three months            after planting; under garden conditions in The Netherlands,            plants flower from spring to late autumn; plants can be            flowered year-round in the greenhouse.        -   Inflorescence longevity.—Depending on the temperature,            inflorescences last about two to four weeks on the plant;            inflorescences persistent.        -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering habit with            about 16 inflorescences developing per plant during the            flowering season.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.9 cm. Diameter: About            2 cm. Shape: Globular. Texture and luster: Moderately to            densely pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 144B; towards the            base, close to 146A; immature ray florets, close to 183D.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 9.2 cm. Depth (height):            About 2.9 cm. Diameter of disc: About 2.5 cm.        -   Receptacles.—Height: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 9 mm.            Shape: Broadly rhomboidal. Color: Close to 145D.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 200 per            inflorescence; ray florets arranged in about four outer            whorls and two inner whorls of smaller ray florets.            Orientation: Proximally, about 40° from vertical; distally,            close to horizontal. Outer whorls of ray florets: Length:            About 4.5 cm. Width: About 6 mm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex:            Narrowly obtuse to bluntly acute. Base: Narrowly cuneate.            Margin: Entire; not undulate. Texture and luster, upper            surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; matte. Texture and            luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety;            slightly carinate; slightly glossy. Color: When opening,            upper surface: Close to a blend of 53A and 60A. When            opening, lower surface: Close to 60C to lighter than 60C.            Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 60A; venation, close            to 60A; color does not change with subsequent development.            Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 54A; towards the base,            close to 54D; venation, similar to lamina colors; color does            not change with subsequent development. Inner whorls of ray            florets: Length: About 3.1 cm. Width: About 3.25 mm. Shape:            Oblanceolate. Apex: Narrowly obtuse to bluntly acute. Base:            Narrowly cuneate. Margin: Entire; not undulate. Texture and            luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; matte.            Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous;            slightly velvety; slightly carinate; slightly glossy. Color:            When opening, upper surface: Close to a blend of 59C and            60A; apical edge, close to N155A. When opening, lower            surface: Close to 63C to lighter than 63C. Fully opened,            upper surface: Close to 60B; apical edge, close to N155A;            venation, close to 60B; color does not change with            subsequent development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close            to 64D to lighter than 64D; venation, similar to lamina            colors; color does not change with subsequent development.        -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 300 disc            florets at center of the inflorescence arranged in about a            ten-whorl spiral. Length: About 1.9 cm. Width: About 7 mm.            Shape: Tubular with one or two narrow free lobes and one            broader free lobe. Apex: Acute and recurved; upper 42.5%,            free. Base: Lower 57.5%, fused. Margin, free lobes: Entire;            not undulate. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;            moderately velvety; matte. Texture, lower surface: Smooth,            glabrous; slightly velvety; slightly glossy. Color: When            opening, inner surface: Apex, close to 60C, tipped with            close to NN155A; mid-section and base, close to 157D. When            opening, outer surface: Apex, close to 64C, tipped with            close to NN155A; mid-section and base, close to 157D. Fully            opened, inner surface: Apex, close to 64B, tipped with close            to NN155A; mid-section and base, close to 157D. Fully            opened, outer surface: Apex, close to 65D, tipped with close            to NN155A; mid-section and base, close to 157D.        -   Pappus.—Quantity of hairs per floret: Numerous. Length:            About 7 mm. Diameter: Less than 1 mm. Texture and luster:            Soft; matte. Color: Close to 183D; towards the base, close            to 150D.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity and arrangement: About 80 per            inflorescence arranged in about three whorls. Length: About            1.3 cm. Width (at base): About 2.25 mm. Shape: Linear. Apex:            Narrowly acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and            luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy.            Texture and luster, lower surface: Moderately to densely            pubescent; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to 144B;            midvein, close to 143A. Color, lower surface: Close to 143B;            towards the base, close to 137B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 40.7 cm. Diameter: Proximally,            about 6 mm; distally, about 4 mm. Strength: Moderately            strong. Angle: About 15° from vertical. Texture and luster:            Moderately to densely pubescent; moderately glossy. Color:            Close to 144A; distally, close to 146B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium (present on disc florets            only): Quantity per floret: Five. Filament length: About            6 mm. Filament color: Close to 155C. Anther shape: Linear;            basifixed. Anther size: About 3 mm by 0.3 mm. Anther color:            Close to 11A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to            11B. Gynoecium (present on ray and disc florets): Quantity            per floret: One. Pistil length: About 1.2 cm. Stigma            diameter: About 0.3 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft. Stigma color:            Close to 155A. Style length: About 1.2 cm. Style color:            Close to N155B. Ovary color: Close to 157A.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production has not            been observed on plants of the new Gerbera.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, resistance to pathogens and    pests common to Gerbera plants has not been observed on plants of    the new Gerbera grown under commercial production conditions.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Gerbera have been observed to    have good garden performance and to tolerate temperatures ranging    from about −5° C. to about 35° C. and to be cold hardy to USDA    Hardiness Zone 7.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Gerbera plant named ‘MAJBUR20AA’ asillustrated and described.